Selective GSK3β Inhibition Mediates an Nrf2-Independent Anti-inflammatory Microglial Response.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is associated with the proinflammatory phenotype of microglia and has been shown to act in concert with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). GSK3 is also a suppressor of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), the principal regulator of redox homeostasis. Agreeing with the oxidative paradigm of aging, Nrf2 is often deregulated in parainflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

Effects of Metformin Combined With Antifolates on HepG2 Cell Metabolism and Cellular Proliferation.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most prevalent types of cancers worldwide, continues to maintain high levels of resistance to standard therapy. As clinical data revealed poor response rates, the need for developing new methods has increased to improve the overall wellbeing of patients with HCC. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence shows that cancer metabolic changes are a key feature of many types of human malignancies.

Bioinformatics Analysis of Allele Frequencies and Expression Patterns of ACE2, TMPRSS2 and FURIN in Different Populations and Susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2.

The virus responsible for the COVID-19 global health crisis, SARS-CoV-2, has been shown to utilize the ACE2 protein as an entry point to its target cells. The virus has been shown to rely on the actions of TMPRSS2 (a serine protease), as well as FURIN (a peptidase), for the critical priming of its spike protein. It has been postulated that variations in the sequence and expression of SARS-CoV-2's receptor (ACE2) and the two priming proteases (TMPRSS2 and FURIN) may be critical in contributing to SARS-CoV-2 infectivity.

Mercury and Alzheimer's disease: a look at the links and evidence.

This review paper investigates a specific environmental-disease interaction between mercury exposure and Alzheimer's disease hallmarks. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting predominantly the memory of the affected individual. It prevails mostly in the elderly, rendering many factors as possible causative agents, which potentially contribute to the disease pathogenicity cumulatively.

Biocompatible PCL-nanofibers scaffold with immobilized fibronectin and laminin for neuronal tissue regeneration.

Recent advances in regenerative medicine have given hope in overcoming and rehabilitating complex medical conditions. In this regard, the biopolymer poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) may be a promising candidate for tissue regeneration, despite lacking the essential bioactivity. The present study used PCL nanofibers (NFs) scaffold decorated with the extracellular matrix proteins fibronectin and laminin combined for neuronal regeneration.

Hepigenetics: A Review of Epigenetic Modulators and Potential Therapies in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the second most lethal, following lung cancer. Currently applied therapeutic practices rely on surgical resection, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or a combination thereof. These treatment options are associated with extreme adversities, and risk/benefit ratios do not always work in patients' favor.

Date (Phoenix dactylifera) Polyphenolics and Other Bioactive Compounds: A Traditional Islamic Remedy's Potential in Prevention of Cell Damage, Cancer Therapeutics and Beyond.

This review analyzes current studies of the therapeutic effects of Phoenix dactylifera, or date palm fruit, on the physiologic system. Specifically, we sought to summarize the effects of its application in preventing cell damage, improving cancer therapeutics and reducing damage caused by conventional chemotherapy. Phoenix dactylifera exhibits potent anti-oxidative properties both in vitro and in vivo.

Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Glucose Control and Inflammatory Response in Type II Diabetes: A Double Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and vitamin D deficiency are major health concerns around the world. Evidence suggests a possible role of vitamin D in improvement of insulin secretion and sensitivity.

Objectives: We assessed whether vitamin D supplementation could be used in vitamin D deficient-type II diabetes to improve glucose metabolism, components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and specific inflammatory biomarkers.

Autoantibodies associated with prenatal and childhood exposure to environmental chemicals in Faroese children.

Methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are ubiquitous and persistent environmental chemicals with known or suspected toxic effects on the nervous system and the immune system. Animal studies have shown that tissue damage can elicit production of autoantibodies. However, it is not known if autoantibodies similarly will be generated and detectable in humans following toxicant exposures.

Neuroantibody biomarkers: links and challenges in environmental neurodegeneration and autoimmunity.

The majority of neurodegenerative (ND) and autoimmune diseases (AID) remain idiopathic. The contribution of environmental chemicals to the development of these disorders has become of great interest in recent years. A convergence of mechanism between of ND and AID development has also emerged.

Effects of obesity and sex on antimicrobial pharmacokinetics and acute kidney injury: validation of a preclinical model.

Obese patients may be at a greater risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) with the use of certain antimicrobial agents that are dosed by weight. Current preclinical models of AKI utilize the male rat within a narrow weight range that limits extrapolation of the generated results. We evaluated the pharmacokinetics and AKI potential of gentamicin in 14-week-old diet-induced obesity-prone (n = 40) and obesity-resistant (n = 40) rats of both sexes.

Nervous system autoantibodies and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in hemodialysis patients.

Cognitive deficits are prevalent in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) have been linked to both neurodegeneration (ND) and neuroprotection, respectively. Autoantibodies (Ab) to myelin basic protein (MBP), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament (NF) triplet proteins arise secondary to nervous system (NS) damage providing a means to assess neurological injury.

Nutritional vitamin D supplementation in haemodialysis: A potential vascular benefit?

Aim: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in end-stage renal disease and has been associated with atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction and left ventricular hypertrophy. Although activated vitamin D has shown to be cardioprotective, the cardiovascular benefits of nutritional vitamin D (i.e.

Antibodies to neural proteins in organophosphorus-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN) and its amelioration.

The development of OPIDN and the efficacy of experimental intervention using the calcium-channel blocker verapamil were used as a model to test the serial time-measurements of serum autoantibodies against neuronal cytoskeletal proteins [e.g., neurofilament triplet (NF)] and glial proteins [myelin-basic protein (MBP) and glial fibrillary-acidic protein (GFAP)] as biomarkers of neurotoxicity and its amelioration.

Autoantibodies to neurotypic and gliotypic proteins as biomarkers of neurotoxicity: assessment of trimethyltin (TMT).

Developing accessible biomarkers of neurotoxic effects which are readily applicable to human populations poses a challenge for neurotoxicology. In the past, the neurotoxic organometal trimethyltin (TMT) has been used as a denervation tool to validate the enhanced expression of GFAP as a biomarker of astrogliosis and neurotoxicity resulting from chemical exposures. In the present study, TMT was used to assess the detection of serum autoantibodies as biomarkers of neurotoxicity.